Venturing out to the inaugural Woolooga Rodeo and Festival.
Coming from New Zealand, rodeos and A&P shows don’t have anything close to the same recognition or presence that they have here in Australia.
Growing up, my dad introduced me to a few of the classic Aussie bushman tales, back when they were on VHS and Blockbuster and Video EZY were still around. I grew up with ‘The Man from Snowy River’, watching Tom Burlington ride down the side of a mountain was epic, and ‘The Silver Brumby’ (which for the longest time made me not like Russell Crowe- I got over that). As I got older there was McLeod’s Daughters which I religiously taped every Thursday night at 8.30pm because I was never home to watch it, but it was the joy of my Sunday morning.
Now there’s something that all of these movies and shows have in common and that is that stereotype of the classic “aussie bushman”. That was something I was prepared for coming here. What I wasn’t prepared for was seeing legitimate cowboys.
The first time it happened I was in a small town called Texas, on the Queensland/New South Wales border. I stopped for gas and as I stood there filling up the old Subi, to my utter amazement two men walked out of the service station coffee and pie in hand looking like they had stepped out of the Wild West. It was the best thing I had seen that day. So when I had a chance to see even more in one place I couldn’t resist.
Having been to the Maryborough show earlier I’d had a taste of Aussie rodeos. Having missed the muster earlier in the year, I wasn’t going to let the opportunity for a spot of camping, some live music and another taste of the rodeo. So, booked a couple of tickets to the inaugural Woolooga Rodeo.
While my camp neighbours may have left a little to be desired, the music, different rodeo events and the food trucks were great.
Getting there: Woolooga is an easy half hour drive from Gympie down the Wide Bay Highway and Bauple/Woolooga Road. Or if like me you are coming from further north, it is about 50 minutes from Maryborough.
The rodeo offered day and weekend passes with an option to camp overnight. Now I am always keen for an adventure and the added bonus of being able to enjoy a few cold beers made camping sound like a great idea.
Cost: Camping was $25 and tickets for two days $75.
Driving into the sale yards, I really wasn’t sure what to expect. After checking in and receiving wristbands I was directed over to the camp area and it was a case of finding a flat spot to roll out the canvas, that wasn’t in a cow pat. Parking up Herc I quickly got to work and in ten minutes had a rudimentary camp for the night set up. With the housework taken care of it was time to explore the grounds and stalls.
Walking out of the camping area the perimeter of the grounds were lined with different food trucks and stalls selling all sorts. The bar was in full swing, the music stage is getting set up for later in the arvo and the Ringers Western truck is seeing a fair few people going through the door. Down at the arena events were in full swing.
Tip: take your own camp chair with you as grandstand seating is limited.
After watching ropers and wranglers for a few hours it was time to chase down some food while there was a bit of a break. And there was plenty to choose from. Cold cider in hand I decided that it had been too long since I’d had a good baked potato and it was time to rectify that situation.
Tip: it is cash only, there is an ATM there, but for those who like to be prepared, take cash with you.
After heading back to camp to get into something a bit warmer (can’t go wrong with a flannel and jeans, plus you’ll blend in) I soon tracked down the ladies at the potato stand and then had the tough decision of which concoction to have. Settling on the bacon and onion I had zero regrets and tucked into what was, by far, one of the best baked potatoes that I’ve had. Armed with a cold cider it was time to head back down for the night’s events. Bareback bronc riding, bull riding, saddle bronc riding and roping the competitors turned it on and put on a show of some crazy skills and guts.
At 4pm the stage opened up and some good bands played through the night, bringing a cool atmosphere to the place. At the conclusion of the rodeo at 8pm everyone headed back up the hill for a few brews around the fire, or a bit of a boogie in front of the stage.
Unfortunately at about 11pm we were told the second day’s events had been cancelled due to weather. At this point a fair few people decided that it would be better for them to head home, for some of the rest of us we kept going right the way through until the last band finished at midnight.
At about 1.30am I realised sleep was never going to happen as there was a bit much going on around me. So I decided that I might as well have a warm, soft bed, packed up camp and pointed Herc’s nose in the direction home. Preparing for a ‘just in case’, I decided to take the spottie covers off as the Wide Bay Highway is lined with bush and Roos like to be a bit unpredictable. Good thing I did: two kangaroos decided to play chicken with Herc and that extra reaction time meant being able to avoid them.
Despite a bit of disappointment with a last minute cancellation, I can without a doubt say that it certainly is a good day out and would be an event that I would go to again. You meet all sorts at these events, the atmosphere is great and the sheer skill of some of the competitors is awesome to see. Certainly keen to see how it goes next year.
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